Decorative plastic wall tile

ABSTRACT

A decorative tile including a transparent body with a smooth outer surface and an embossed or crinkled backing visible through the outer surface but spaced therefrom so as to give the tile a visible, three-dimensional effect.

Nov. 21, 1972 W, G, ENA PER 3,703,431

DECORATIVE PLASTIC WALL TILE FIed Aug. 3, 1971 111 i Ver @www 0%# rUnited States Patent Oflice Int. Cl. B44f 1/00; B321) 3/28; E04c 2/20 U.S. Cl. 161-6 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A decorative tile including a transparent body with a smooth outer surface and an embossed or crinkled backing visible through the outer surface but spaced therefrom so as to give the tile a visible, three-dimensional eifect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 877,295, led Nov. 17, 1969, now abandoned. Decorative tiles, and particularly tiles, available generally at this time are usually either metal tile or opaque plastic tile. Metal tiles, most often stainless steel or aluminum, are generally provided with a brushed dull nish. Plastic tiles are available in many colors or are varicolored but the coloring is visible only at the outer surface.

The tiles of the present invention show a design or pattern spaced from and visible through a planar outer surface and, therefore, all three dimensions are visible for improved appearance.

Preferably, the portion of the tile comprising the design is of itself three-dimensional.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall tile embodying the features of the invention;

IFIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the tile illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is partial view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a specic example of my invention, a wall tile, shown generally at 10, includes a transparent plastic main body portion 12 having a smooth, planar, planar front face 14. The edges of the body portion 12 are bevelled as at 16 to form a rear recess 18, the bevelled edges 16 being formed of the same material and having the same thickness as the body portion 12.

3,703,431 Patented Nov. 21, 1972 In the preferred embodiment, an opaque decorative portion 20 is in the form of a backing foil which may be crinkled as shown at 22 or embossed as shown at 24. Obviously, any regular or irregular design may be utilized and the foil itself may be of any color. Alternately, the decorative foil may be silvery and the transparent main body portion 12 may be any desired color.

The decorative portion may be secured to the back of the main body portion by cementing, the only requirement being that a cement be chosen which will not etch or discolor the back surface of the portion 12.

Although the above described embodiment is preferred, it has been found that the three-dimensional effect can 'be achieved, though not quite as satisfactorily, by embossing a design on the back face of the transparent body portion. The embossed desi-gn additionally may be coated or vacuum metalized for heightened three-dimensional effect.

With the design being on the back of the tile, visible through the transparent body portion, the front face of the body portion may be a planar surface which may be easily wiped clean and which will stay clean for a longer time than would a surface having a design embossed thereon.

What is claimed is:

1. A decorative Wall tile comprising a thin main body' portion, said body portion being transparent and having a smooth, flat front face, said body portion having peripheral edges having the same thickness as the body portion and beveled rearwardly to form a rear recess of substantially the same area as the front face, and an opaque decorative portion covering substantially all of the recessed area, said decorative portion being visible through the front face.

2. A wall tile according to claim 1, wherein said decorative portion is separate from said body portion and secured to said body portion.

3. A wall tile according to claim 1 wherein said decorative portion is an embossed desi-gn on said body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,054,223 9/ 1962 OBrien 52-309 3,246,066 4/ 1966 Gits 161--138 X 3,518,153 6/1970 Slosberg et al 161-6 X 2,095,269 10/ 1937 Schuler 161-224 X PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

